Liquid-dispensing apparatus.



P. M. ASHLEY.

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 190B.

1,035,51 6. Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

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F. M. ASHLEY.

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 19,1908.

1,035,516, Patented Aug. 13,1912.

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COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPN C0" WAIKINGTON. l7. 1:.

UNITED sures PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK M. ASHLEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LIQUID-DISPENSING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

Application filed May 19, 1908. Serial No. 433,636.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK M. ASHLEY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of New York, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have in- .vented certain new and useful Improvethe liquid may be cleaned by a second fluid under pressure, such as water, which is controlled by the same valve movement in each direction as that which operates to control the liquid to be dispensed.

A further object is to operate the dispensing piston valve by pressure from the same source of supply so that the operation of the valve may be assured, both for cleaning the pipes and for dispensingthe liquid. A further object is to provide means whereby the liquidto be dispensed may be returned to the keg from which it is drawn, said means comprising a valve which controls the air which operates the dispensing Valve located at a distance fromsaid keg, and preferably near to the dispensing faucet, and also a valve for controlling the dispensing valve located at a distance from the keg.

Referring to the drawings which form part of this specification, Figure 1 is a general view in elevation of a complete installation which comprises the receptacle in which the liquid is stored and the valves which control the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the dispensing valve. Fig. 3 is an exterior view of the dispensing valve shown in Fig. 2. Fig. t is a vertical sectional view of the tap portion which fits into the top of the keg containing the liquid to be dispensed.

A, indicates the floor line of a collar; B, the floor line of the first floor above the cellar; C, a shelf for holding glasses, etc., and D, a bar.

E, indicates a cylinder containing air under pressure; F, the air compressor which is operated by water conveyed by pipe G, and which is connected with the city main or other suitable source of supply under pressure.

H, indicates a pipe through which air is forced from the compressor to the ey1inder E, and I, indicates a pipe through which air is conveyed to the top of the pipe J at a point just back of the dispensing faucet K, and a valve L controls the passage between pipes I and J.

M, indicates a branch of pipe I, and leads to the conduit N in the tap l.

P, indicates a pipe having the, conduit M which extends to the bottom of the keg O, and is connected to the upper end of tap Nat P as shown, and the liquid to be dispensed, which we will assume to be beer in this case, isled from the keg through p1pe P and tap N, and through a portion of the casing Q to pipe J and therethrough to dispensing faucet K, which is provided with a handle K R, indicates a pipe which connects with the cylinder IV at one end, and with the airsupply pipe I, at'its opposite end.

S, indicates a p pe which connects with the valve Q at one end, and with the water pipe G at 1ts opposite end, by way of a branch connection S. T, lndicates a basin.

By referring to Fig. 2, itwill be seen that the lower end of valve Q. is connected to a nipple U, which in turn is connected to the tap N by the hand nut V. Valve Q contains the sliding piston IV and a rod W having a piston IV of larger diameter at its upper end, a collar W of the same diameter as the said piston IV located at a predetermined distance therefrom. so that the pistons and collar will move in unison when actuated. The valve casing is providedwith a vent opening II. a water inlet IV, an air inlet IV, and an outlet for the liquid to be dispensed, IV, which outlet communicates with faucet K by way of pipe J.

In use, the normal position of the pistons in the casing Q, is the upper position, whereinthe piston IV rests above the outlet IV and below the inlet IV, in which position the communication between the keg O and faucet K is open, as will be readily understood, and the water or cleansing fluid will fill and be at rest in the chamber IV formed betweenpiston IV and collar IV, and easing Q, and since the area of said valve and collar is equal, the water pressure will exert no pressure tending to actuate the piston valve beyond that due to the negligible weight .of the water trapped between piston W" and collar The normal position of the vent valve X is open, and of the control valve Y, closed, and therefore the air entering chamber 0 and exerting its pressure on the surface of the fluid O forces same upward through pipe P, tap N and nipple U to the casing Q, forcing the piston WV upward until the conduit W is in open communication with the keg, when the stored liquid will flow to the pipe J and thence to the faucet K, from which it may be dispensed. The stored liquid may be returned to the keg O by opening the valve L, which admits air of the same pressure into the top of pipe J, thus equalizing the pressure of air on each end of the column of stored liquid in pipe J and permitting same to drop by gravity to the keg. The valves a, b and c, are normally open, but are closed while a new keg is being connected in operative relation with the dispensing apparatus. After the liquid has been returned to the keg, the pipe J may be cleaned by closing vent valve X and opening valve Y, when air will flow through pipe R to cylinder l and acting on the comparatively large area of piston will force same downward, thus forcing piston IV to cut off communication from the keg to conduit IV", and permitting water to flow through chamber IN and conduit to and through pipe J and faucet K, to clean said passages. Valve Z is provided in pipe S, which valve is opened when the pipe J is to be cleaned. This valve may be left open at all times if so desired. By closing valve Y and opening vent valve X, the air pressure above piston W is released, and the piston IV is again forced upward by pressure of air in chamber 0, as will be readily understood.

The construction and operation of the pistons W and and collar is such that on their downward movement the piston I/V cuts off the flow of the dispensing liquid through the valve Q, before opening the outlet W for the flow of the cleansing fluid from pipe IV through chamber VV Also when the piston IV is caused to move up ward, it first closes the outlet W" and cuts off the flow of the cleansing fluid through pipe V and chamber l/V and then opens outlet so that the dispensing liquid may flow through pipe P' and passage 9 topipe J. By this construction therefore the dispensing liquid inlet is always closed before the cleansing fluid can flow through the dispensing pipes, and vice versa, so that all danger of the dispensing liquid being mixed with the cleansing fluid is obviated. Also, as the collar W is of the same area as the piston W, the pressure, when the cleansing fluid is admitted to the chamber IV cannot lift the piston V so as to cut off the flow of the said fluid. By this arrangement the water pressure may be very high or very low relative to the air pressure, but the piston W can be operated regardless of the variations of said water pressure, and no separate water drain is required in operating the apparatus.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new is:

1. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a valve comprising a casing having two cylinders of unequal diameter, a piston rod, two pistons mounted on said rod and work ing respectively in said cylinders, a collar mounted on said rod between said pistons, said collar being of an area equal to the area of the smaller piston and adapted to equalize the pressure of the fluid entering between the pistons, separate inlets and a common outlet in said casing for the fluid to be dispensed and for a cleansing fluid, said pistons adapted to control said inlets and outlet.

2. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a valve comprising a casing having two cylinders of unequal diameter, a rod, two pistons mounted on said rod and working respectively in said. cylinders, a collar mounted on said rod between said pistons, said casing having an inlet arranged between said pistons and another inlet arranged exteriorly of the travel of said pistons, and an out let of a diameter less than the length of the smaller piston, said last mentioned inlet and said outlet being adapted to be controlled by said smaller piston.

3. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a valve comprising a casing having two cylinders of unequal diameter, a rod, two pistons mounted on said rod and working respectively in said cylinders, a collar mounted on said rod between said pistons, said casing having an inlet arranged between said pistons and another inlet arranged eX- teriorly of the travel of said pistons, and an outlet of a diameter less than the length of the smaller piston, said last mentioned inlet and said outlet being adapted to be controlled by said smaller piston, a valve controlling a fluid for actuating one of said pistons and another valve for controlling a fluid for actuating the other of said pistons.

4. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a system of receiving and delivery pipes for a liquid under pressure to be dispensed, and for a separate cleansing fluid under pressure, acasing having two cylinders of unequal diameter, a piston rod carrying a piston at each end thereof working in said cylinders, suitable inlets and an outlet for the said liquid and fluid, one of said pistons being adapted to control the flow of the said liquid and fluid through the casing and delivery pipes, and means for equalizing the fluid pressure between said pistons.

5. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a system of receiving and delivery pipes for the liquid to be dispensed and a cleansing fluid, a valve arranged in said system, comprising a casing having two cylinders of unequal diameter, a movable member comprising a piston rod, two pistons of unequal area mounted on said rod, a collar fixed upon said rod between said pistons and Working therewith in said cylinders, a chamber being formed between said collar and one of said pistons, the said collar being equal in area with the smaller of said pistons, suitable inlets and an outlet communicating with the interior of said casing, said dispensing liquid being adapted to cooperate with one of said pistons to actuate said member, and independent fluid pressure means cooperating with the other piston to actuate said member.

6. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a system of receiving and delivery pipes for the liquid to be dispensed and an independent cleansing fluid, a valve comprising a casing arranged in said system, said casing having two cylinders of unequal diameter, a piston rod, two pistons of unequal area carried by said rod, a collar fixed upon said rod between said pistons and working therewith in said cylinders, a vent for the larger of said cylinders opening into the atmosphere, a chamber being formed in said casing between said collar and one of said pistons, the said collar being of the same area as the smaller piston, suitable inlets and an outlet communicating with the interior of the casing, the smaller piston being adapted to be actuated by the liquid to be dispensed, and the larger piston from an independent source of power.

7. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a system of receiving and delivery pipes for the liquid to be dispensed and an independent cleansing fluid, a valve comprising a casing arranged in said system, said casing having two cylinders of unequal diameter, a vent for the larger cylinder opening into the atmosphere, a piston rod, two pistons of unequal area carried by said rod, a collar fixed upon said rod immediately below the larger of said pistons, and working in unison with said pistons in said cylinders, a chamber being formed in the valve between said collar and the smaller piston, the area of the smaller piston and of the collar being equal, an inlet pipe for the cleansing fluid opening into said chamber, an inlet for the liquid to be dispensed separated from said chamber by the smaller piston, an outlet from said casing, the smaller piston being adapted to be actuated by the liquid to be dispensed, and the larger piston by an independent fluid under pressure, substantially as shown and described.

8. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a system of receiving and delivery pipes for the liquid to be dispensed and an independent cleansing fluid, a valve comprising a casing arranged in said system, said casing.

having two cylinders of unequal diameter, a vent for the larger cylinder, a piston rod, two pistons of unequal area carried by said rod, a collar fixed upon said rod between said pistons, below and abutting against the larger piston, and working with said pistons in said cylinders, a chamber being formed in the valve between the collar and the smaller piston, the area of said collar and smaller piston being equal, an. inlet pipe for the cleansing fluid opening into said chamber and being in constant open communication therewith, an inlet for the liquid to be dispensed at all times separated from said chamber by the smaller piston, an outlet from said valve to the delivery pipe, the smaller piston being adapted to be operated by the liquid to be dispensed, and the larger piston by a fluid under pressure, the latter being independent of both the dispensing liquid and the cleansing fluid.

9. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a system of receiving and delivery pipes for the liquid to be dispensed and an independent cleansing fluid, a valve comprising a casing arranged in said system, said casing having two cylinders of unequal diameter, a piston rod, two pistons of unequal area carried by said rod, a chamber being formed in the casing between said pistons, means for equalizing the pressure in said chamber and preventing the actuation of the larger piston by the cleansing fluid, an inlet for the cleansing fluid opening into said chamber and in constant open communication therewith, an inlet for the liquid to be dispensed, and prevented from communicating with the said chamber by the smaller piston, an outlet opening into the delivery pipe, one piston being adapted to be operated by the liquid to be dispensed, and the other by a fluid under pressure.

Signed at New York city in the county of New York and State of New York this 16th day of May A. D. 1908.

FRANK M. ASHLEY.

Witnesses DANIEL DE V. I-IARNED, O. M. KENDRICK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

